RETURN

CUMBERLAND AREA TRANSIT SYSTEM (CATS)

SERVICE OF

CUMBERLAND COUNTY OFFICE OF AGING AND DISABLED
790 East Commerce Street
Bridgeton, New Jersey 08302

"Bus Transportation for Seniors and Disabled"

1. INTRODUCTION

2. REGULAR MALL ROUTES

3. GENERAL PUBLIC SERVICE

4. OUT-OF-COUNTY NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION

5. A FEW REMINDERS TO MAKE \CATS A MORE EFFICIENT SERVICE FOR YOU

INTRODUCTION

The Cumberland County CATS Program continues to provide bus transportation to County residents who are 1) aged 60 years or over, 2) Veterans, 3) disabled, or 4) blind.  Bus service is provided from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

To ride the County CATS, one must call the CATS dispatch office at 609-691-7799.  For all areas of the County, you must telephone at least 2 working days in advance for transportation service.  48-hour reservation calls will be taken from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  All other calls will be taken from 8:00 a.m. until 4 p.m.; including cancellations, medical emergencies, or same-day and prior-day reservations (on space available basis only).

REGULAR MALL ROUTES:

Regular trips to the Cumberland Mall are scheduled from Vineland, Port Elizabeth, Port Norris, and Millville on Tuesdays and Fridays.  Mall trips from Bridgeton and surrounding areas are scheduled on Fridays.  To be included on these routes, call CATS at 609-691-7799.  For all mall trips call at least 2 working days in advance.

GENERAL PUBLIC SERVICE:

Calls from the general public will be accepted for inclusion in these regular mall trips.  Calls from the general public will be accepted on a 48-hour advance notice from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. of the second working day prior to trip day.  General public will be picked up at regularly scheduled stops along the Mall Route.  A full schedule of pick-up points for general public service is available at the CATS office.

OUT-OF-COUNTY NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION

CATS provides non-emergency medical transportation to hospitals and medical facilities outside of Cumberland County on a daily basis.  Clients requesting this service should call 609-691-7799, five to seven days in advance.  Service is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.

First-time callers to CATS will be assigned a special client number.  You should place this number on the back of your County ID Card issued to senior citizens, veterans, and the disabled, and present it to the driver when you board the bus.  When calling for future trips, give the dispatcher your client number as well as your name.  If you lose your card, call the Office on Aging 609-453-8066 for a replacement.

Riders should make all arrangements for rides through the dispatch office.  Unless the drivers check with the dispatch office, they are not authorized to provide a trip.

A FEW REMINDERS TO MAKE \CATS A MORE EFFICIENT SERVICE FOR YOU:

1) You must call the dispatch office 2 days in advance in order to reserve a trip.  You will make arrangements for both destination and return trips at that time.  This means you must request your trip no later than 4 p.m., two days preceding the trip.  For example, if you are requesting a trip for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, call no later than the preceding Monday by 4 p.m.

2) 48-hour reservation calls will be accepted from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Arrangements for all other calls must be made with the dispatch office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

3) CATS is asking each rider to donate at least 50 cents.  Donation boxes are placed in each vehicle to receive your donations.  Your contributions are needed to enable the CATS service to maintain its current operation.  The Out-of-County medical transportation donation request is $1.00 per one-way trip.

4) If you schedule a ride and then need to make a change or decide to cancel (or find other means of travel), you must notify CATS immediately or as soon as possible.  This will save precious time and help CATS run according to schedule.  Always remember to cancel your trip if you will not be riding as you requested.

5) If you have questions or concerns regarding CATS operations, feel free to call the CATS Project Office at 69109331 or the Administration Office of the Cumberland County Office on Aging and Disabled at 609-451-8000 ext. 358.  Client feed-back questionnaires are available on the buses if you would like to communicate your concerns to the County Office on Aging and Disabled.  

6) Handicapped or frail riders may need hands-on assistance or someone to accompany them in order to be able to ride the bus.  In this case, a rider may qualify for "helper" status and be accompanied by a helper.  To obtain "helper" status, clients should contact any County Office on Aging Outreach Office.

7) Whenever groups or agencies wish to utilize CATS for special trips outside of regular working hours, they may write a letter of request to Misono Miller, Executive Director, at least 10 days in advance stating the details of the trip (date, sponsor, event, times, etc.).  Upon approval of request, clients should call the CATS Office at 691-7799 for all information regarding special trips.

8) Remember that buses occasionally break down or need attention.  Should there be a road failure, please be patient or assist by finding an alternate means of travel.